Basket making machine



- Oct. 8, 1935. J BROOKS 2,016,623

BASKET MAKING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WITNESS c/mea D.Breo7(\s I I 'svkmv o ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1935. J BROQK$ ZMWZB BASKET MAKING MACHINE I Filed June 26, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIHIIIIIIHIHHHIIIIIIHIIHHIIIIIHIIIHHHHVHIIHVIIIITHY UHIIHHHHIIIIIIllllll R O N E V m ATTORNEY 1935- J. D. BROOKS BASKET MAKING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 I VE TOR (James Ear-o0);

HIM i ATTORNEY @mi 8 19350 J D g s 2,016,623

BASKET MAKING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1930 s Sheets-Shet 4 INVENTOR WlTNESS Y j papraaf s,

v BY7 ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1935. BROOKS zfiwfiw BASKET MAKING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 lml 1 INVENTOR WITNESS v gm? Fi MY O.

ATTORNEY dizmee DBr-ools Oct 8, 1935. J D', BRO K h 2,016,623

BASKET MAKING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORN EY Oct. 8, 1935- J. D. BROOKS 2,016,623

,BASKET MAKING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1950 8 Sheets-Shet 7 I v v ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1935.

Filed June 26, 1930 va Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR Jimes P.3ma hi .94 i||. 2a 1 3 3a 2, ,2 lllFj Q 1///// K 4 h ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Steel-Bound Container Corporation, St.

Petersburg, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application June 26, 1930, Serial No. 464,034

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for forming lengths of fabricated material.

An object of the invention is the provision of a machine for continuously connecting laths, palings, or staves to spaced metal straps in such a manner that no nails or securing means other than the punched pointed lugs formed on the metal straps will be employed, the pointed lugs being forced through the strips of spaced wood and having their ends bent upon the opposite sides of the strips for securing the strips of wood to the metal straps.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine for continuously connecting strips of flat wood to metal straps, the metal straps being cut and punched to form lugs which will penetrate the wood with the ends of the lugs being clinched upon the strips of wood securely fastening the piece of wood to the straps, means being employed for cutting the fabricated material in suitable lengths.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for cutting metal straps to form lugs while bending said lugs at right angles to the surface of the straps after which the lugs are forced through spaced strips of wood carried in spaced relation through the machine, the punching and cutting mechanism comprising a pair of revolving wheels having spacedpunches 301 and dies radially disposed at the periphery of the wheels.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawings form- 35 ing a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of 40 the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention,

45 Figure 2 is a side View in elevation of the machine showing the system of gearing,

Figure 3 is a plan view,

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine,

50 Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure '7 is a transverse vertical section taken 55 along the line of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a section taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 1, I

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken along the line 99 of Figure 1,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side view in eleva- 5 tion of the punching and cutting elements,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a belt for carrying the strips of wood,

Figure 12 is a view in perspective of an adjusting block, 10

Figure 13 isa view in perspective of a pair of ends of the metal straps secured together,

Figure 14 is a view in perspective of an element of the cutting and punching die,

Figure 15 is a view in perspective: of the other 15 element of the die,

Figure 16 is a view in perspective of a piece of metal strap which has been cut and punched by the co-operating elements shown in Figures 10, 14, and 15 and 20 Figure 17 isa view in perspective of a block equipped with a cutter and punches.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 20 designates spaced standards forming side walls of the machine, the side walls being provided with 25 a plurality of bearings 2|, 22 and 23 at the upper periphery. I

A motor 24 is carried by the standards 20 and is provided with a'pulley 25 for drivlng a belt 26. This belt extends upwardly to the ceiling where it drives a pulley and shaft, not shown. A second belt 2! is driven by a pulley which is driven by the shaft and pulley just described. The belt 2'! drives a pulley 28 rigid with a shaft 29.

A shaft 29 drives a gear 30 which in turn drives a gear 3| in mesh with a gear 32 and a gear 33. The gear 33 drives a gear 34 which meshes with a gear 35. These various gears are driven in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 2.

A gear 36 is driven by the gear 34 and meshes 40 with a gear 31. The last-mentioned gear in turn drives a gear 38 rigid with a shaft I32. The gear 31"is keyed to a shaft I33.

A plurality of wheels are arranged in spaced relation at the forward end of the machine and are arranged to be revolved by the drawing of the metal straps through the machine in a manner which will be presently described.

A wheel, generally designated by the numeral 4| is located adjacent one of the standards 20 while a wheel, generally designated by the numeral 42, is located adjacent the other standard. A third wheel, generally designated by the numeral 43, islocated intermediate the wheels 41 and 42.

The wheel 4I consists of a disc 44 provided with a hub portion 45 from which projects radially a boss 46. Mounted in the boss is a pin 41 having a flange 48 engaged by one end of a spring 49. The other end of the spring is engaged by a cap 50 threaded into the outer end of the boss 45. A handle 5I located at the outer end of a stem 52 connected with a pin 41 provides means for precipitating the pin. The inner end of the pin is located within one of two annular grooves 53 formed in a shaft 54 which is carried by a bearing 55 at the upper end of the standard 56. A set screw 51 secures the shaft 54 against rotation in the bearing 55.

A second disc 58 is spaced from the disc 44 by means of an offset cup-shaped member 59 formed integrally with the disc 58 and located adjacent the center of the disc. The cup-shaped member has a hub portion 60 received by one end of a,stub shaft BI and a bushing 62 is squeezed into the hub section 60 and located between the shaft BI and the inner wall of the hub section. The shaft 6| is supported in a bearing 2I formed at the upper edge of the plate 20.

The disc 58 is maintained in position by means of a cap 63 which has an inwardly projecting member 64 seated within a complementarily formed recess at the inner end of the shaft GI and a set screw 65 secures the cap 63 in position so that the portion of the cap adjacent the periphery and at the inner face abuts the bushing 62 and aids in retaining the disc 58 in a predetermined plane.

It will be noted that the cup-shaped member 59 being offset with respect to the disc 58 provides an annular shoulder 66 and in connection with the disc 58 and the disc 4I provides an annular chamber or groove to receive the metal straps 61 which are wound upon the wheel or spool 4| The wheel or spool 43 is formed of a disc I having a hub portion II carrying a boss I2 in which is slidably mounted a pin I3 with its inner end mounted within a groove I4 formed in the shaft 54 and maintains the disc 10 in a predetermined spaced relation with respect to a disc I forming the other element of the spool or wheel 43.

The disc I5 has a cup-shaped member I6 formed centrally of the disc I5 and is provided with a hub section 11 in which is forced a bushing 'IBto receive one end of a shaft 19. The end of the shaft which is received within the hub section 1'! has a cap 80 secured thereto and engages one end of the bushing I8 for maintaining the cup-shaped member in a predetermined spaced relation with respect to the disc 10.

The cup-shaped member I6 has an annular shoulder 8| which, together with the disc I0 and the disc I5, provide an annular groove to receive a metal strap 82 which is wound upon the spool 43.

The wheel or spool 42 is identical in construction with the wheel 58 and will not be described in detail. A pin 83 having its inner edge fitted within a groove 84 formed in the end of the shaft i0 maintains a disc 85 forming one element of the spool 42 in a predetermined position. The disc58 has its upper end spaced from the 'disc 42 to provide an annular groove to receive a metal strap 86 which is wound upon the spool. The brackets 56 which are located upon opposite sides of the spool 43 are carried by transverse bars 87 mounted upon the standard 20.

Referring more particularly to Figures 3, 5, 10,

14 and 15 it will be seen that a unit is incorporated in the machine for cutting the straps and for forcing penetrating lugs in right angular positions with respect to the straps. A shaft 90 is driven in one direction by the gear 34 while the 5 gear 35 drives a shaft 9! in the opposite direction. These shafts are mounted in bearings 92 formed in the standards 20. On the shaft 90 are keyed three discs, respectively, 03, 94 and 95. A ring 95 is secured to one face of the disc 93 while a ring 9? is secured to the opposite face by means of pins 08. These pins likewise secure in radial relation one of the elements 99 of a die. A wheel or disc I00 is carried by the shaft 9| and located in the same vertical plane with the disc 93. This disc also has a ring IOI secured to one face adjacent the periphery while a ring I02 is secured to the opposite face by means of pins I03. An element I04 of the die is formed in a complementary manner to the element 99 and a plurality of elements I04 are supported by the pins I03 around the periphery of the disc I00 and are adapted to be aligned end to end with the elements 99. The disc I05 is located intermediately of the discs I00 and I00 shown in Fig. 5 and keyed to the shaft 9I. The disc I05 is formed in a similar manner to the disc I 00 except that the rings I06 and I01 aid in retaining a pair of elements I 04 upon opposite faces of the disc I05. The pins I03 retain the elements within pockets formed at the periphcry of the disc I05.

The disc 04 is similar to the disc 93 except that it has two circular rows of elements 99 located at opposite faces of the disc 93 and in co-operation with the elements I04 cut and force the prongs I08 shown in Fig. 16 upon opposite side edges of a strap 82 in a manner which will be presently explained.

The disc 95 is similar in all respects to the disc 93 and the disc IIlIl is similar in construction to the disc I00. The construction of these two discs I will not be described in detail.

Referring more particularly to Figures 14 and 15 it will be seen that the two elements of the die are particularly'illustrated. The element I04 which is applied to the discs IIiII05---I00 consists of a body portion I I0 which is provided with a passage I I I to receive a pin I03. The body portion is provided with a central groove II2 which is V-shaped in cross section. On the outer end of the body portion is provided an edge I I3 intermediate a pair of faces I I4-I I5 inclined away from said edge. The face H4 where it connects with one face of the groove I I2 provides a cutting edge H6. The outer end of the body portion is sheared off at an angle, as shown at Ill, and a cutting edge I I8 is formed at the outer end of the inclined face II! and the face II4. A second cutting edge I I9 is formed between the other face of the groove I I2 and an edge of the face II5. A

cutting edge I20 is disposed at an angle to the edge I I4 and is formed along a line where the inclined edge I2I meets the face II5.

The other element 90 of the die has a body portion I22 which is provided with a passage I23 to receive the pin 08. One face of the body is provided with a pair of V-shaped grooves I24 and I25. These grooves are V-shaped in cross section and provide a centrally disposed V-shaped rib I26. The rib I26 together with the grooves I24 and I25 in connection with the outer fiat face I2I of the body, provide pairs of cutting edges I28 and I29 which co-operate with the cutting edges II8, IIB, .I I9 and I20 to not only cut the straps 82, as shown in Fig. 16 to form the lugs 76 I98, but the inclined faces H4 and H5 force said pointed lugs at right angles to the body of the strap for a purpose which .will be presently described. The edges I35 and I3I of the element I04 ride within the grooves I24 and I25, respectively, when the respective discs 93-I 95, 94-495, 95-I55 are revolved in intermeshing relation, as shown in Figure 5.

The three straps E1, 82 and 95 are drawn through the machine by means of pairs of rollers illustrated more particularly in Figure 8 and are revolved by a pair of shafts I32I33 which are driven respectively by the gears 98 and 31. A pair of spaced wheels I34 are keyed to the shaft I33 and may be cast or they may be formed of sections I35, I55 and I31 which are connected together by threaded studs 998. The members I35 and I35 have portions cut away at the periphery to provide annular grooves I39 to receive the lugs I 98 on the straps 82 and the straps 61 and 85.

Since the intermediate strap has formed thereon lugs I98 upon both of its opposite edges, the

wheel I45 located between the wheels I34 is provided with a pair of grooves I45 to receive the pointed lugs. Wheels I45 mesh with the wheels I40 and co-operate with said wheels for gripping the straps and pulling them through the machine and off of their spools. The wheels I41 co-operate with the wheels E34 and grip the outermost straps for pulling said straps through the machine. The wheels I41 are provided with annular ribs I48 which are adapted to be received within the grooves I48 formed in the wheels I34.

Wheels I45 are also provided with annular ribs I59 which are received within grooves I5! of the wheels I45.

The shaft 533 is mounted in stationary bearings I52 while the shaft I32 has its ends received within a passage i 53 formed in movable bearings I54. These bearings are provided with radially disposed grooves I55 which receive beading I 56 formed in the ways I51 in which the bearings I54 are mounted. The ways I51 are cut in the standard 25. A spring I58 embraces the stem I59 formed integrally with the bearing block I 54 and abuts at one end said bearing block while the other end of the spring engages a bar member I69. By releasing the nuts I 5! the bearing I54 may be moved outwardly to provide a predetermined degree of spacing between the wheels I34-I41 and Mil-445 in order to accommodate straps of different thickness. The bar or member IE9 is held in position by nuts I55 located upon opposite sides of the stem I59 and the bolts carrying the nuts are mounted on the frame of the machine.

A hopper, shown more particularly in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, is provided at the front end of the machine and disposed in a vertical manner to receive flat strips of wood I10. These fiat strips may be formed of veneer and they may represent staves of a basket or barrel or they may represent palings and these flat pieces may be formed of composition material instead of wood if desired. The hopper I'II has its lower end open to travelling conveyors I12 which are driven by wheels I13 and through the gears 55 and 3|. The wheels I13 are secured to a shaft I14. The travelling conveyors are in the form of hard surfaced belts I (Fig. 11) which have secured at the outer end a strap of leather I15 which is adapted to abut an outer end of the strips of material I19 while being carried through the machine. Cleats I11 are secured in spaced relation on the belt I15 and the strips of wood are adapted to be received between the said cleats for aiding in maintaining the strips of wood in spaced relation during the travel through the machine. The belts are provided with perforations I18 adapted to receive projections I19 on the wheels I13 (see 5 Fig. 6). It will be noted from Figure 6 that the intermediate wheel I13 is devoid of the rib I16 which is found on the wheels I13.

A series of wheels I85 are keyed to the shaft I8I and this shaft is driven by the gear 32 while 1 shaft I14 is driven by the gear 3I. The wheels I89 are of less width than the rims I82 of the wheels I13 and I13 and the outer faces of the wheels I89 are adapted to cooperate with the rims I82 and force the lugs I 98 of the metal straps 5 passing between the said wheels into the strips of wood I19 as they arrive at intervals and the outer free ends of the lugs are bent over against the outer faces of the pieces of wood so that the strips of wood are rigidly secured to the straps.

When it is desired to cut the material formed in the machine in predetermined lengths, it is only necessary to supply the wheels I 85 with a knife I 90 and for this purpose each of the wheels are cut off at the periphery, as shown at I9I, to 5 receive a block I92 which carries a knife. Where continuous lengths of the fabric are intended to be made in the machine, as in the case where rolls of material are formed for use as a fence, the knives are removed. As is clearly evident in Fig. 10, projections I98 will be formed in the metal bands for clinching the wooden slats thereto, and that one series of projections will be spaced from the preceding and succeeding series a distance somewhat greater than the distance between the respective pairs of projections in any series. This is desirable because this greater length of band between series may be used to better advantage for formation of the fastening eyes I91.

Referring more particularly to Figure 13, it will be seen that the ends I95 and I96 of the metal straps 61 are provided with pressed-out eyes I91 to receive a pin I98 for connecting the ends of the straps together in the manufacture of barrels or baskets. For this purpose dies are formed which are shaped in accordance with the pressedout members I91 in the wheels I80 and complementarily formed depressions are located within 'the peripheries I82 of the wheels I13 and I13.

Thesedies and depressions are formed in the sections I92 in order that the eyes I91 may be formed as the ends I95 are cut from the straps.

A shoe 299 has an arm 2M which is pivotally mounted on a rod 252 which extends transversely of the machine, the rod being carried by the standards 29. A shoe is located adjacent each of the wheels MIL-I95 and I90 and acts as a guide for the straps when said straps are leaving the. spools 4t, 42 and 43. These shoes by their Weight exert sufficient pressure upon the straps to aid in maintaining the straps taut.

The operation of my device is as follows: The material in the form of strips I19 are placed within the hopper Ill and the lowermost strip will rest upon the travelling carrier I12. These strips, as has been previously described, may be connected to the straps for the purpose of forming the side wall of a basket or barrel or the strips may be connected to the straps in spaced relation for fencing. Whatever the purpose of the ultimate application of the manufactured article the method of forming the article is identical in each case except that certain changes will be required although not material in order to adapt the ma chine to: the particular product. In other words 7 in the manufacture of fencing or in the construction of barrels, or palings or staves, must be longer than the members forming the side walls of a basket. In this instance it will be only necessary to utilize a greater number of the forming elements.

As soon as the motor 24 is set in motion the wheels I13 will be revolved, causing the travelling carrier I12 to receive and move the slats or strips of material towards the pair of co-operating wheels I13 and I80. At the same time the drawing wheels I34I4'I, IO-I46, will pull the straps inwardly and since the die wheels are revolving they will cut and form the lugs I08 along one edge of the metal straps 57 and 86 While the die wheels will cut and form the lugs upon opposite edges of the straps 82 which are travelling centrally of the machine. The travelling carrier moves the pieces of wood to the groups of intermeshing wheels I13 and I80 and the mechanism is so timed'that these strips of wood will arrive at the intervals when the prongs or lugs I08 01 the straps will be moving between the wheels so that said lugs will be forced through the strips of wood and have their outer ends which have penetrated the strips of wood swaged over, thereby locking the strips of wood to the straps. It will be appreciated that the hard surface belts I15 in conjunction with the wheels I13 serve to clinch the prongs I08 against the exposed face of the wooden slats.

As has been previously explained, cutters I90 may be inserted on the wheels I80 in order to sever pre-determined lengths of the manufactured product for the formation of baskets or barrels. When fencing is manufactured the cutters will be removed and continuous straps of the product are formed.

It will be noted that the die elements 99 and I84 have their outer ends moving towards each other at an angle so that the cutting and the forming of the lugs at right angles to the plane of the straps is gradual.

The block I92 is not only provided with a cutter I90 but with punches 300 located upon opposite sides of the cutter so that when the wheel I80 is revolved and the cutters and punches move into contacting relation with the wheel I I3 the straps 82 will not only be cut off but portions of the 5 straps on each side of the cut will be punched to form eyes I91 shown more particularly in Figure 13.

I claim: I

1. A machine for assembling bands and slats, comprising means for directing the bands through the machine in substantially parallel relation, and means for forming projections on the bands in longitudinally spaced relation with respect to each other, said means being of such character, that at predetermined intervals the projections are spaced a greater distance than the usual distance between projections.

2. A machine for assembling bands and slats comprising means for directing the bands through 2 the machine in parallel relation, means for stamping spaced projections in the bands for respectively securing wooden slats thereto, means for severing the bands between predetermined lengths, and means for forming fastening eyes in the bands at each side of the line of severance, such means being of such character that the eye at one side of the line of severance is complementary to the eye at the other side when the ends of the bands subsequently are disposed in overlapping relation. 7

3. A machine for assembling bands and slats, comprising means for directing the bands through the machine in substantially parallel relation, means for forming projections on the bands in longitudinally spaced relation with respect to each other, means for automatically spacing the projections at predetermined intervals at greater than the usual distance between projections, and means for forming end fasteners in the bands at such points where the projections are spaced a greater amount.

JAMES D. BROOKS. 

